Planning Assistant / Officer

We are seeking a Planning Assistant or Planning Officer to join the Applications and Consents Team on a full time or part time basis. This a career graded post that will enable your progression though the grades. Indeed, in the last 14 months alone, four members of the team have progressed to higher grades.

We are a well-staffed and high performing team that are responsible for facilitating and regulating land use changes in accordance with local and national policies and guidance. While this is a high-level description of what we do, we assess and decide planning applications to achieve the best planning outcomes. We must balance the competing interests of applicants and developers, neighbours, relevant stakeholders, and the public at large, as well as the economy and the environment.

North Somerset is a constrained area in planning terms with Green Belt, National Landscapes, extensive areas vulnerable to flooding, and other sensitive environments. Our challenges are wide ranging and as a result there will be plenty of opportunity to develop your career.

While this position is based in the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, we operate a hybrid working environment. Most of the team predominantly work from home however, we attend the office as a team once a fortnight.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about planning, and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

Planning Assistant: NVQ level 3 in Town Planning or equivalent.
Planning Officer: Degree in Town and Country Planning or equivalent

Desirable Criteria:

Eligibility for membership of RTPI
Customer service experience, Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

Competitive salary and benefits
Flexible working arrangements
Local Government Pension
Opportunities for professional development
Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.